Arts Council Receives Governor's Award

February 17, 2008

COLUMBIA, SC -   The board of the S.C. Arts Commission has selected the Arts Council of Greenwood County as one of seven recipients of this year’s Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Awards, the official Governor’s Awards for the Arts.

“These recipients represent excellence and the utmost commitment to the arts in South Carolina,” said Suzette Surkamer, executive director of the South Carolina Arts Commission. “The awards acknowledge their outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts in our state.”

Established in 1972, the annual awards are the highest honor the state gives in the arts and recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina.

The awards presentation is taking place during a special Statehouse ceremony on Wednesday, April 16, followed by an awards luncheon at the Columbia Marriott Hotel. In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Arts Commission, previous Verner Award recipients are being recognized during the luncheon. The S.C. Arts Foundation is presenting the benefit luncheon. For more information, call (803) 734-8696.

Operated by only two staff members, the Arts Council has grown tremendously since its incorporation in 1997. Now a major community leader, the Arts Council has 600 individual members, 26 member organizations and a $250,000 budget.

With a major renovation of the city's historic Federal Building under its belt, the Arts Council has proven that it is more than capable of fulfilling its mission to take a leadership role in community cultural planning and development for the benefit of existing organizations and for the support of new endeavors.

With the Arts Council's vision and funding from the Self Family Foundation, this massive effort took eight years and many steps to complete. Organizations and program needs were identified. Renovations of the 25,000 square-foot facility were planned and implemented. A $3.5 million campaign was carried out—without outside help. Moreover, the organization administered $800,000 in funding for renovations for the theater and $400,000 in funding for renovations to the museum.

The new Arts Center has led to an amazing transformation of its community and has encouraged additional uptown revitalization, resulting in approximately $8,000,000 in investments in the cultural district. A hospitality tax has been passed to support these projects, and the city has leveraged the development of the cultural district to obtain grants for the adjacent Emerald Triangle District.

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BELOW - Greenwood community leaders celebrate the official opening of the Arts Center at the Federal Building in April 2006.